No matter what the weather is like, Director of Sustainability Anthony Baratta grabs his bike and rides to his job everyday “with a smile on his face,” fellow student and sustainability project, Cecilia Limon, said.
As a young man growing up in Ohio, his family inspired him to bring out the best in people. He was taught that actions speak louder than words, which has been his life motto.
Baratta has always been interested in science and politics, which has allowed him to learn many different topics that he expresses through his work. After learning about sustainability as a junior in high school, Baratta made it his mission to create a space where a community can come together and uplift one another through community service and environmental conservation.
“I knew I wanted to be involved with recycling and being green but it wasn’t until my teachers gave presentations on the topic that I decided to truly commit to it,” said Baratta.
With the purpose of creating environmental awareness and civic engagement, Baratta has campaigned his own program and built up the DePauw Office for Sustainability. He campaigned by giving pitches to his peers about creating a space for sustainability.
“He involves himself with everybody in every group,” Catalina Saldana, a sustainability group project member, said. “The projects are all different but he somehow manages to be there for everyone. He brings us together.” Baratta not only directs 8-10 different groups within DePauw, but is also the head of the commission for sustainability in Greencastle.
With the establishment of DePauw Discourse, an opportunity for the institution to bring in various public figures and have them speak to the DePauw community, Baratta was able to raise awareness on climate change.
He had the idea of bringing staff members, students and Greencastle residents to work collectively, each on distinct areas within both the University and surrounding area.
After graduating college he was able to get a job at DePauw as Assistant Director of Sustainability and has worked himself up the ranks. Bringing notice to himself by receiving a grant from DePauw President Brian W. Casey, he was able to create and establish the Office of Sustainability, which the institution still holds today.
Through Baratta’s work with campus sustainability and environmental fellows, he received the award of Citizen of the Year, given by the Greencastle Commision for Sustainability.
Baratta has never been an attention seeker, however, through his work in the community, he has drawn attention to himself. “I never want to appear like I’m a product of achievement, I just enjoy doing what I am so passionate about,” Baratta said.
As a DePauw alumnus, he has transformed a small grant and passion into the sustainability office DePauw has today. Not only has he been an integral part of the change on campus as well as the community, but also works constantly to better not only himself but the world around him every single day.
